Down The Field: Week 8

By: The Polish Prince

​This was the annual “What the hell was that?” game. How do I know? Because I said, “What the hell was that” probably 20 times. Whether it be the defense not stopping the run, an errant pass or dropped ball, coaching decisions, or officiating. All around it was a sloppy game that the Lions should have won. Its not the fact that they lose these games but the way that they lose them is so frustrating.  They never just flat out lose a game. They always string the fan base along for 60 minutes and make the same mistakes that they made is previous loses. The sick part of this game was that I fully expected for Matt Stafford to get the ball with less than two minutes and march the team down the field for the game tying score.
 
The Good:

• Not Available

 
The Bad:

• Matt Stafford: This game really cooled off the MVP talk and brought out the critics. He wasn’t his usual sharp self, 27/41, and he missed a lot of easy throws. He had one really bad interception in the first half on a wheel route where he didn’t even see the safety coverage over top. It looked like he just turned and threw it. Need sharper play out of Matt. This team goes as he goes.
• Special Teams: They had a block in the back penalty called that negated a huge return (even if it was a bad call, it was called none the less) and they missed a field goal. They did have a nice return on the Lions final drive but that missed field goal was too bad to think that this unit played up to standards. Anything inside 50 yards needs to be automatic.

 
The Ugly:

• The Defense: When you look at the scoreboard it doesn’t look like too bad of a day, but don’t let it fool ya. In the first half, Teryl Austin & Co. elected not to cover tight ends. While a very bold strategy, fortune did not favor it. While the Houston TEs were eating up the secondary, at least the run game was being held in check, right? Whelp, after half-time, the defense decided to not stop the run either. Alas, in what looked like a desperate attempt to get fortune to favor the bold, the decision to not stop the run ultimately did the Lions in. The D had a great opportunity to redeem themselves and get a 3-and-out after the onside kick but they got Alfred Blue jammed right down their throat.
• Coaching Staff: This team looked like the same team that lost three in a row. Uninspired, unfocused, and unprepared. Offense was lackluster to say the least. Defense didn’t get any stops when they needed too, outside of the interception towards the end of the half.
• Jim Caldwell: What the hell man? Why don’t you challenge that Hopkins catch/fumble? You have to realize that the NFL officials suck at replay and that your defense stinks. I thought it was a fumble, others said it wasn’t, but I thought it was worth the risk. Ok, so not challenging that says you trust your defense to get stops. Why in world would you onside kick it with 3 minutes left? You blatantly said you trusted your defense by not challenging the Hopkins call then later on you don’t trust them at all? Come on man. There’s a time to be aggressive and there is a time to be stupid, this week Caldwell was stupid when he should have been aggressive and aggressive when shouldn’t have. This game makes me think he wants to get fired. I want to like this guy so much but I cant because of his constant coaching gaffes/ inconsistent team play. Unless there is a playoff victory, I fully expect Bob Quinn to get his guy in there next year.
• Officials: I hate them. Always have, always will. They are the bane of my existence. Them and Wall Street Fat Cats.

 
This was a winnable game on the road and the Lions just couldn’t get it done. It’s the same song and dance that my father did, my father’s father did, and my fathers’ father ‘s father did. 4-4 at the halfway point in the season and they aren’t finished yet because the NFL is shit across the board.
 
Obligatory clip for this blog: